New Delhi, August 10: The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 (Triple Talaq Bill) has been deferred yet again with no consensus among the Government and Opposition. Earlier there were reports that the Bill would be tabled in Rajya Sabha today. However, Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu on Friday announced that the amended Bill won't be tabled today, which is the last day of Monsoon Session of Parliament. This came after the Opposition created ruckus in the House and the Congress demanded that the Bill be sent to a select committee. Here's all about the Triple Talaq Bill.
The government can now either bring in Ordinance on criminalising triple talaq or can wait to bring up the Bill in the next session.
The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 seeks to criminalise instant triple talaq. The Union Cabinet had amended the legislation passed by the Lok Sabha, to incorporate the concerns raised by the Opposition.
As per the changes promulgated, an accused can avail bail if the magistrate grants, despite the offence remaining to be non-bailable. Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the Bill would retain the non-bailable clause as it would act as a deterrent. "The only way to get bail is through an order by the magistrate after he hears the wife," the Minister added.
"If the wife and the husband desire to settle their differences, then the magistrate can compound the offence on appropriate terms and conditions. A magistrate can grant bail after hearing the wife," Prasad said
Another major change made to the law is that the complaint could now be registered only by the wife or those in blood relation with the couple.
"The FIR shall only become cognizable when it is filed by victim or anyone in blood relation to the accused or victim," Prasad said. This is in contradiction to the earlier version of the Bill which allowed anyone to register a complaint on finding a case of instant divorce.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 10, 2018 03:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).